Difference between revisions of "Code word"

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A '''code word''' is a type of [[term of art]] whose meaning is intentionally obscured, usually in order to increase acceptability to outsiders. Many, though not all, such terms are also [[snarl word]]s. Many [[Christian]] terms, including "salvation", "pagan", and the like, were code words in the original Greek and Latin forms.  
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A '''code word''' is a type of [[term of art]] whose meaning is intentionally obscured, usually in order to increase acceptability to outsiders. The act of using code words is often referred to as '''[[dog-whistle politics]]''', referring to the fact that the "code" can only be understood or heard by a select target group. Many, though not all, such terms are also [[snarl word]]s, but are used to disguise the outright offense that they would cause if the user just spoke literally. Many [[Christian]] terms, including "salvation", "pagan", and the like, were code words in the original Greek and Latin forms.
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==Example code words==
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Code words attempt to disguise a particular view, making it palatable to outsiders who have yet to "decode" it, while allowing the less savory meanings to be understood by the in-group. This makes them slightly different to plain loaded language, which tries sway opinions about a subject.
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*'''[[Family values]]''' - Broadly interpreted as [[homophobia]] but is essentially actively discriminating against most "alternative" lifestyles or anything remotely "non-traditional" (even though the traditional "One man, one woman, two sweet kids, a dog and a picket fence" ideal has little-to-no basis in historical reality).
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*'''[[Open mind]]''' - Usually when this is used it's either to denigrate an opponent as supposedly "closed minded", or is possibly a euphemism for "why won't you agree with me!"
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*'''[[Islam|Radical Islam]]''' - Roughly translates in reality as ''all'' of Islam, radical or otherwise. "Combating radical Islam" is usually used in place of "[[Ann Coulter|lets invade their countries and convert them to Christianity]]".
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*'''[[Affirmative action]]''' - Like it or not, this just means [[racism]]. Although since the election of [[Barack Obama]] and the coining of "Affirmative Action Peesident", this phrase may have changed course from a left-wing code word to a right-wing snarl word used to denigrate the achievements.
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*'''[[Intelligent Design]]''' - The ID movement began as a way to [[secular|secularize]] creationism; people are happy with a "design hypothesis" but less happy when it's overtly religious. Although ID is a whole "scientific" way of thinking, rather than just a code-word, the fact that it's considered by the scientific community as identical to creationism qualifies it as a mere code word.
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==External links==
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*[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Political_Code_Words Source Watch - Political Code Words]
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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*[[Loaded language]]
 
*[[Loaded language]]
 
*[[Milk before meat]]
 
*[[Milk before meat]]
 
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Revision as of 11:00, 19 November 2009

A code word is a type of term of art whose meaning is intentionally obscured, usually in order to increase acceptability to outsiders. The act of using code words is often referred to as dog-whistle politics, referring to the fact that the "code" can only be understood or heard by a select target group. Many, though not all, such terms are also snarl words, but are used to disguise the outright offense that they would cause if the user just spoke literally. Many Christian terms, including "salvation", "pagan", and the like, were code words in the original Greek and Latin forms.

Example code words

Code words attempt to disguise a particular view, making it palatable to outsiders who have yet to "decode" it, while allowing the less savory meanings to be understood by the in-group. This makes them slightly different to plain loaded language, which tries sway opinions about a subject.

  • Family values - Broadly interpreted as homophobia but is essentially actively discriminating against most "alternative" lifestyles or anything remotely "non-traditional" (even though the traditional "One man, one woman, two sweet kids, a dog and a picket fence" ideal has little-to-no basis in historical reality).
  • Open mind - Usually when this is used it's either to denigrate an opponent as supposedly "closed minded", or is possibly a euphemism for "why won't you agree with me!"
  • Radical Islam - Roughly translates in reality as all of Islam, radical or otherwise. "Combating radical Islam" is usually used in place of "lets invade their countries and convert them to Christianity".
  • Affirmative action - Like it or not, this just means racism. Although since the election of Barack Obama and the coining of "Affirmative Action Peesident", this phrase may have changed course from a left-wing code word to a right-wing snarl word used to denigrate the achievements.
  • Intelligent Design - The ID movement began as a way to secularize creationism; people are happy with a "design hypothesis" but less happy when it's overtly religious. Although ID is a whole "scientific" way of thinking, rather than just a code-word, the fact that it's considered by the scientific community as identical to creationism qualifies it as a mere code word.

External links

See also